It may be hard to know if a dental issue you are facing is a dental emergency. This blog post aims to help you determine whether your dental issue qualifies as an emergency dental issue.
What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is characterised by any dental issue where there is severe pain, bleeding, swelling, or dental trauma that requires immediate attention. Common dental emergencies include abrupt tooth pain without explanation, bleeding or swelling of the gums, unexplained swelling in the jaw or mouth, exposed nerves, a tooth falling out, a filling falling out, a damaged dental crown, a tooth abscess, and in some cases when food or debris is stuck between your teeth causing discomfort or pain.
Distinguishing Between a Dental Emergency and a Non-Urgent Issue
Dental emergencies require immediate care to alleviate severe pain, control bleeding, or address significant trauma. Non-urgent issues, such as a dull toothache, small chips in teeth, or minor soft tissue injuries, while needing attention from a dentist, do not require emergency dental services. Understanding the severity of symptoms and the nature of dental issues is crucial in determining the need for emergency dental care.
Immediate Steps in Case of a Dental Emergency
If you are in need of an emergency dentist appointment, immediate actions you can take include:
- For a knocked-out tooth, keep it moist and try reinserting it into the socket. If that’s not possible, place it in milk or a tooth preservation product
- Apply a cold compress to alleviate pain and swelling
- Rinse with warm water or a mild salt-water solution for a cracked tooth or to clean the mouth after trauma
- For an abscess or severe infection, seeing an emergency dentist immediately is crucial to prevent the spread of infection
When to See an Emergency Dentist
Immediate dental care is necessary when experiencing uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, signs of infection, loss of a tooth, or any significant injury to the mouth that cannot be managed with home care. Delaying treatment for these conditions can lead to more severe health issues
How Emergency Dental Services Can Help
Emergency dentists are equipped to handle urgent dental issues, offering treatments such as fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, and management of dental trauma. They can also provide antibiotics to manage infections and pain relief measures until a permanent solution is implemented. Emergency dental services aim to quickly address pain, prevent further damage, and save teeth whenever possible.
If you have a dental emergency in Kingston, please call Thames Street Dental on (020) 8 546 6 546, or contact us through this website for immediate assistance.